guest: guest: it is not aligned purely by party lines. host: as the debate continues, it is live coverage on c-span2. think you for being with us. the house is about to get under way with their morning session. 11:00 a.m. eastern time today, both of the house and the senate will hear from the prime minister of israel. think you for being with us. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2011] the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order. the chair lays before the house a communication from the speaker. the clerk: the speaker's room,

washington, d.c., may 24, 2011. i hereby appoint the honorable eric cantor to act as speaker pro tempore on this day. signed, john a. boehner, speaker of the house of representatives. the speaker pro tempore: the prayer will be offered by the guest chaplain, rabbi jeremy, the conservative synagogue, west port, connecticut. the chaplain: dear god, source of all strength, compassion and peace, we know that our time on this earth is preciously short so please, open our eyes to the beauty of the world around us. remind us that each person we encounter is created in your image. provide us with the integrity, wisdom and patience to listen to those with whom we do not agree and learn were those who we might otherwise not hear. protect the courageous men and

women who put their lives in danger each day so that our children can live safely and without fear. comfort us today as we mourn with the people of missouri following the tragic loss of life brought upon by the devastating forces of nature. and finally, bless our leaders and advisors, including the dedicated men and women of this united states congress who seek to protect our sacred democratic values at home and abroad. and may you grant them the vision to lock ahead to our future without forgetting the lessons of our past. amen. the speaker pro tempore: the chair has examined the journal of the last day's proceedings and announces to the house his approval thereof. pursuant to clause 1 of rule 1 the journal stands approved. the pledge of allegiance will

be led by the gentlewoman from florida, ms. ros-lehtinen. ms. ros-lehtinen: please remain standing and join us in the pledge to our nation's flag. i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman from connecticut, mr. himes, is recognized for one minute. mr. himes, thank you, mr. speaker. it is a thrill and honor this morning on this profishes day in which a joint session of the united states congress will be addressed by prime minister netanyahu of israel to introduce and welcome our guest chaplain of the day, rabbi jeremy. he is a friend. he is the spiritual leader of the conservative synagogue of west port and has been so since 2008. prior to doing that he gave

service in henderson, nevada, for eight years. he is a leader in the community and his synagogue. he is also true to the ministry dictated by his and so many of our faiths, including over time having led and mobilized his community to set an emergency mission to israel in response to the missile strikes from hamas in gaza. he it is a real honor. i know the rabbi has served as an important leader in west port and throughout fairfield county. he's served as a friend to me. i would say in addition to his spiritual guidance he introduced me to a new experience for this presbyterian. i think i thanked him introducing him of his history and culture, if not exactly for the culinary experience. welcome, rabbi, and thank you,

mr. speaker. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. after consultation among the speaker and the majority and minority leaders and with their consent, the chair announces that when the two houses meet in joint meeting to hear an address by his excellency, binyamin netanyahu, prime minister of israel, only the doors immediately to his left and right will be open. no one will be allowed to be on the floor of the house who does not have the privilege to be on the floor of the house. children of members will not be permitted on the floor. the cooperation of all members is requested. the practice of reserving seats prior to the joint meeting by placard will not be allowed. members may reserve their seats by physical presence only following the security sweep of the chamber. pursuant to the order of the house of thursday, may 12, 2011, the house st

debate on expiring provisions of the anti-terrorism law known as the patriot act. follow the senate on c-span2. >> now available, c-span3's congressional directory.

inside, new and returning house and senate members with contact information. and information on the white house, supreme court justices and governors. order online. at 2: 30 eastern, a senate subcommittee and looks into recent instances of air traffic controllers fallen asleep on the job. -- falling asleep on the job. that is at 2:30 eastern on c- span3. over the three-day memorial day weekend, commencement addresses from across the country. all offering their advice and insights to the graduating class of 2011. memorial day weekend on c-span.

queen elizabeth ii welcomed president barack obama and the first lady at buckingham palace this morning. complete with a 41-gun salute. [guns fire] [national anthem plays] ♪

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>> this is the scene at buckingham palace this morning. president obama said he will travel to missouri. more than 100 people were killed in joplin wind that twister hit on sunday. he spoke in london this morning. this is the second stop of his tour in europe. back here in washington today, israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu will be giving his outline for peace with the palestinians, addressing a joint meeting of congress. we will have it live for you here on c-span. house speaker john boehner last night talk about support for israel and criticized the palestinian government for its security agreement with hamas,

telling aipac that the government is judged on the company that it keeps. his comments are just over 10 minutes. ♪ >> thank you for that kind introduction. to all of you, thank you for what you do. i have had a chance to meet so many of you over the years, not just those of you from ohio, but throughout the country. to be assembled under one roof, it feels like getting old friends back together again. we have an awful lot of catching up to do. a recent events bring to mind henry kissinger's lament at one point when he says there can be no crisis next week. my schedule is already full. i thought about that when i was talking about what was going to

say tonight. i began to recall the last time i was in israel several years ago. i never will forget visiting the northern border with lebanon, standing there with soldiers, many of them 18 or 19-years old. israel does not get to choose its embattled space. that border was about 100 miles from the jerusalem. as a speaker of the house, i feel a responsibility to help ensure our nation keeps this political and financial commitment and maintains its role as the beacon of freedom and democracy. [applause] and it is in that spirit, that i join with all of you tonight. and much of been said about this special bond between israel

and the united states. the ambassador called israel the altman ally. i could not agree more. [applause] -- the ultimate ally. in the last 63 years, through all the threats we have faced, america and israel have formed a strategic alliance built on trust and based on shared values. that is the reason that we gather to honor and to strengthen in a very public way the historic friendship between our two great democracies. we know the world is a dangerous place for democracies. we saw it in this country on 9/11. now the death of osama bin laden marks an important victory in the fight against al-qaeda and islamic extremism.

our nation's military and intelligence professionals have achieved an important role in our nation's fight against terrorism, and i think they deserve our deepest appreciation. [applause] but terrorist organizations are more resilient than just one person. al-qaeda has been weakened, but they have not been destroyed. my job as speaker is to ensure the house remains focused on confronting and defeating the complex and evil and terrorist threat that still targets the united states and her allies. in lebanon, hezbollah cast out a freely elected government and dominates the country. every day, that terrorist organization gets more weapons from syria and from iran. looming over the entire region,

of course, the iranian regime and the threat there and in the wider world. there is no doubt that the regime has taken notice of how the united states has responded to the threats in libya and in north korea. if anyone here still doubts the regime of's request of nuclear- weapons, i think you are optimistic. if anyone thinks we can contain the aggression and terrorist of version of a nuclear arms iran, you may not be just optimistic, but somewhat delusional. now, the best threat -- the best remedy for the threat in the world is for the people of iran to rise up and deflate the that regime just as the people of tunisia and egypt have risen up and replaced their regimes. [applause]

we all hope that the regimes in libya and in syria will be replaced to the peoples of those countries can escape t yranny. we should make it clearer than it has been for the last two years that america is on the side for those who yearn and struggle for their own freedom. it that desire -- that desire -- we should never apologize or be ashamed of that role that we play in the world. [applause] that is why america's commitment to the advancement of democracy in the middle east remains critical. one of those democracies is iraq prepared as president obama recently said, iraq represents the promise of a multi-cultural democracy. iraq is more than just this

simple democracy. it is in a position to become a strategic ally in the region. this is attributed to the resilience of the iraqi people, the sacrifices made by our troops and diplomats, and the many nations that played a role in this task. but we must remain committed to ensuring that iraq continues toward a transition as a sovereign country capable of defending themselves and at peace with their neighbors. let me be clear. experience reminds us that elections does not constitute a responsible democratic state. we know that democracy means not just black majority rule, but the rule of law -- not just majority rule, but the rule of law.

now we are witnessing the battle for the region's political identity. whether or not government will respect the dignity, a poll the whether the people will rule, or will we see religious minorities oppressed and the fundamental rights abridged. will we see one-man, one-vote, one time? we are watching the struggle play out in egypt into foster an economic development in egypt is important. it just as critical is the work to secure a strategic partnership with the people of egypt to protect our interests and maintain their commitment to peace with israel. [applause] this brings me to israel and peace. i know the hour is late. over in jerusalem, the sun is

just beginning to rise. with it, another day of uncertainty. the work of achieving a safe and secure israel has never been easy, but the cause is right, and i will tell you i have a 100% support of the cause of peace and support in israel. [applause] israel has demonstrated time and again that it seeks nothing more than peace with its neighbors. both sides need to make compromises. prime minister netanyahu and knows this and accept this. what does the other side want? one that embraces a terrorist organization, i think it makes its intents known. [applause]

you know, there are some out there that complain that the united states is too pro-israel. i do not doubt what america stands for. [applause] the president and the congress should work together so the american people, our friends, and yes, our enemies, understand the national security policies and our goals. so that our allies, like israel, have no cause to doubt that we will be with them through thick and thin. [applause] before there was an aipac,

securing support for a jewish state was the work of a dedicated few, including an historian by the name of benjamin netanyahu. he said at one. many people in those days had no faith. today, we hear the same kinds of things from people who believe that israel must always give in. that view was wrong then, and that view is wrong today. [applause] tomorrow, his son, the prime minister of israel, will address and the congress, marking another milestone. i was honored to invite him, and it will be our honor to have him there -- [applause] it will be our honor to have him there, the representative of a free people who have overcome

all odds to rebuild an ancient nation. [inaudible] thank you for having me. but remember this. keep up the fight. ♪ [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2011] >> we will hear from harry reid in just a moment from last night at aipac. benjamin netanyahu will be addressing a joint session of congress this morning at 11:00 a.m. eastern. the last time he addressed congress was july 10, 1996. we will have live coverage at 11:00 or just before that. senate majority leader harry reid also spoke at aipac last night about support for israel and the middle east peace process. he said "no one should set premature -- his comments are

nearly 20 minutes. ♪ >> we need this year in the shadow of israel's birthday. our mood is not one of celebration. it is one of caution and concern. this week, no time in israel's history as our future faced such serious tests. history have sos many of you gathered to make your voice is heard. your tireless activism has made you an unparalleled force throughout the country and the world. it is not only were members or your passion that is made you effective. it is the virtue of your cause

and the integrity of your conviction. ahoy [applause] -- and to the integrity of your convictions. [applause] you are in the arena and in the fight, year after year. today, here, we are united, determined, demanding strength and success. we insisted israel not only survived but thrived. [applause] i am honored to stand before you this evening to say that, like you, i stand with israel always. [applause] i will make sure the united states stands with israel every time. i will do this as the majority leader of the united states

senate. i will do this as a senior senator from the state of nevada, the home to the fastest growing jewish community and the country, a spirited, pro-israel community and the home of many aipac members here tonight, including my good friend and the next senator from the state of nevada, shelley berkeley. [cheers and applause] shell y. i stand with israel. and america stands with israel because the values that have cast our histories are one in the same, and our futures will intertwine more than our history has been. you know, here are the values. you know them. democracy, opportunity, justice, strength, security, and

self-defense, innovation, peace -- these values fasten the unbreakable bond between the united states and the state of israel. we also share a common confidence that the risks we take are right. israel and america meet great challenges with the faith that we're fighting the good fight. this month began with a daring mission the world will long remember, the raid that got bin laden was unprecedented in significance, but to those who know their history, it was not unfamiliar. thirty-five years earlier in the summer of 1976, israel showed the world how it's done. many of you remember terrorists took a hijacked plane where they freed only the non-jewish passengers. after days of deliberation, israel's leaders decided to conduct its first ever mission outside the middle east, far, far from home.

the rescue was as dangerous as it was ingenious. the israeli troops went to the airport in the cover of night to deceive the guards on the ground and drove to the terminal in mercedes and land rover motorcades, identical to the one the president would use to travel. less than an hour later while we celebrated our independence, more than 100 jewish hostages discovered their freedom. [applause] the only troop israel lost that day was prime minister benjamin netanyahu's brave older brother, yoni. [applause] many of the elements of that story sound familiar to the details we've heard in recent days about the raid that brought another hijacker to justice. before both missions,

intelligent services surveyed the targets. troops built and trained on an exact model before flying through the darkness to unfamiliar foreign terrain to what they had to do. the surprise mission was carried out with staggering speed and success. all the while it was kept under the highest secrecy, but these stunning operations have something much more important in common, and neither was a case of certainty or even really probability. israel's leaders were far from confident a military strike would succeed. they wrestled with the tension and pressure and doubt. it was approved at last with hope, but also with a heavy heart, and three weeks ago even as the hell chopper was -- helicopter was landing, our troops were not certain bin laden was inside. american leaders struggled with second and third guesses, but in the end, decisive leadership led to definitive success.

[applause] in both cases, those who designed, ordered, and carried out the mission operated on a little more than circumstantial evidence. in other words, they acted on faith. faith that their job is justice and duty is solemn. the faith that tells us if we will it, it's no dream. [applause] both nations decided the risks were worth taking because neither israel nor america tolerates terrorism that stains our past. we don't give into fear. we stand up to the honor of our nations and our people. when we're attacked, we will always remember, always fight back though it may take some time, we follow through. [applause]

many nations take many risks. america and israel though are the countries that make them count. we succeed. americans and israelis are the people who make possible the impossible. that's the spirit we need to recapture in the next pursuits of justice. the past six months have seen more remarkable change in the middle east than any period in the past six decades since the state of israel was born. this young story has been one the democracy, of human rights, a story written by those who know the voice of the people is as valid as the voice of the palace that's just as legitimate and just as loud. today, the middle east and north africa have captured the world's attention. witnesses of history around the globe are rooting for democracy, but while we celebrate progress and as the arabs' spring turns to summer, we have to protect the stability, security, and

support of the state of israel. [applause] and no one should forget the vast majority of the arab world is still not free, but for 63 years of strong, vibrant democracies flowered in the unlikeliest of deserts. it's a democracy committed to progress and prosperity and anchors the free world. the thousands of us here tonight say single voice if you believe in democracy, believe in israel. [applause] three years ago i wrote legislation in the united states senate to congressmen rate the -- comeme rate israel. it passed anonymously. when the whole world condemned israel in the accident, i didn't

stay silent, but i spoke up. i spoke up real loudly. [applause] i worked with democrats and republicans alike to collect almost 90 senators' signatures to defend israel's right to defend herself. [applause] we all know that if we were attacked in the same way off our shores, the united states would have done nothing different. [applause] i've been happy to host many bipartisan senate meetings with israeli prime ministers, and i look forward to benjamin netanyahu's visit tomorrow in a rare joint meeting of congress. [applause] i've always supported robust american aid to the state of israel, and i always will. [applause]

in congresses' budget last year with domestic and international spending was slashed, we made sure israel got the full funding it needs. [applause] frankly, that was no easy task, but my senators stood by israel. [applause] when congress' next budget, i support full funding for security assistance. [applause] we will face an even tougher budget environment this year, but i'm committed to defending this critical aid, but aid alone is not enough. we support israel because it's in our national and security interests. [applause] we support israel because she is what isiah called a light into the nations.

[applause] we also must sustain her glow with all of our political might. the history of the jewish people is in the land of israel. it's future will be there too. i support a strong democratic jewish state of israel living in peace and security with the palestinian state. like you -- [applause] like you, i hope sincerely for a true and lasting peace between israelis and the palestinian people. this conflict is older than us, but i refuse to believe it cannot be resolved by us in our lifetimes. these solutions are not simple. the only way to achieve delicate balance we seek between security and peace is through the hard work of negotiation. [applause] i believe the parties that should lead these negotiations must be the party at the center of this conflict and no one

else. [applause] the place where negotiation will happen must be at the negotiating table and nowhere else. [applause] these negotiations will not happen. their terms will not be set through speeches or in the streets or in the media. [applause] no one should set premature parameters about borders, about buildings, or about anything else. [cheers and applause] [applause] i support strongly the

resolution centers that carter and collins introduced saying a conflict should come through direct palestinian-israeli negotiations. [applause] we're going to have faith that peacetimes will be fruitful and know those having the conversation are doing so in good faith, and if we wish for these talks to be productive, to produce a fair ending, we must demand a fair beginning. [applause] what this means is that the pal stippians can want bring the negotiating table a terrorist organization that rejects israel lease right to -- israel's right to exist. [applause] nowhere else in the world, any place in the world at no other time is one party expected to compromise with a partner who denies its very existence.

[applause] a peace process can happen only when both sides seek peace. [applause] two partners cannot build a bridge when one party refuses to even admit there's something on the other side of the span. [applause] my friends, perez, is the most visionary foreign leader i've ever known. a government that includes hamas is a threat not to israel, but a threat to the palestinian state, the legitimacy of a new state, and threat to the state in the region. [applause] we must never forget that these are the hostage-taking terrorists who kept car gents from their families and fellow soldiers for almost five years.

[applause] their beginning of good faith talks also means the palestinians cannot stop by the negotiating table on the way to the united nations where they seek recognition where it's symbolic and dangerously counterproductive. [applause] a fair beginning to good faith talks, means israel cannot redefine its confines only to compromise its own security. [applause] palestinian's cooperation also determines american's willingness to continue our current aid program. [applause] i'll say this as clearly as i can -- the united states of america will not give money to terrorists bent on the

destruction of israel. [cheers and applause] [applause] the palestinian government, specifically including hamas, the united states continues to insist hamas recognizes israel's right to exist, renounce violence, and honor the commitments made by prior palestinian authority governments. [applause] i was there when the first of the governments was conceived. some of you were there too, and many of you remember clearly the sunny september day when the south won at the white house. we watched two sworn enemies sign a piece of paper and peace seemed within our grasp too. the prime minister spoke about the promise of a new age. as a soldier and father talked of those tired of war and

dreamed of child not knowing war. a child born on that day in 1993 turns 18 this summer. they shook hands in the city are counting down the days until they start their service to the idea, and now that child, a child with hope who would not know war finds himself or herself face to face with the same challenges of which its parents have grown very weary. we must remember the lessons, weigh both the potential and the peril of negotiating israel's future, and we must do better. [applause] the torah teaches us to honor our father and ore mother, but also honor our children by giving them the chance to know

peace. [applause] that mission may be more daunting and seem more improbable, but we've seen that faith and fearlessness have won us before. the next generation will face another menace as well, one on which we cannot afford to lose focus amid the frustration and fatigue of the stammering peace process. it cannot be overestimated. it is a common enemy to both israel and america. [applause] the president of iron has made anti-semitism his policy and preaches propaganda and his regimes go erasing israel from the map. while iron torments neighbors, it brutalizes its own people and

the world watched in hoer -- horror as they murdered their own citizens as they only asked for their basic freedoms that all people desire. sadly, these abuses continue today, unjust executions, abductions by security forces, arbitrary arrests, detention, and yes, torture. as long as the terrorist state of iran supports hamas and hezbollah and hides behind the terrorists and defines the international community, america will stand against iran. for our sake, and for israel's sake. [applause] iran's terrorists are only the beginning of the problem. they are pursuing nuclear weapon

cape the and the ability to launch them in israel. these weapons could reach europe. that would destabilize the region making existing conflicts volatile and more dangerous. the regime threatens the national security of israel and the united states. we will not sit back and watch it develop nuclear weapons capability. [applause] this is why we work so hard to pass last year's bill. it says if you pursue nuclear weapons, you put your economy at risk. i thank each of you here tonight because it was your hard work that got this bill to the president's desk. [applause] many of you personally came to capitol hill and made clear the urgent case for passing these sanctions, not just any sanctions, the aipac team was there to make sure we pass the

strongest legislation possible. you should be proud of what you accomplished. this program was comprehensive, and it's tough. our goal is to target iran where it hurts the regime the most, so we imposed sanctions on the refinery industry and banking institution that does business with the terrorist guard. we've seen these sanctions work, major international firms pulled out of iran because they didn't want to put their businesses at risk. iran's economy suffered as a result. of course, iran continues to get around these sanctions. we knew that would happen, so we have to keep our foot on the gas, ensure that the administration fully implements and forces sanctions and keeps the pressure on the allies to do their part. [applause] the senate will be working on a new round of legislation to help tighten the sanctions we already passed. none of us wants to go to war with iran.

on the other side it prevents human suffering, but we will not wait forever or take any option off the table. [applause] president kennedy speaking of the great nuclear challenge of his time reminded us that our problems are manmade and they can be solved by man. he said, man's reason and spirit often solved the seemingly unsolvable, and we believe they can do it again. israel and america have done the impossible before. we can do it again. we must do it again. let me close how i began with a story of a daring israeli rescue mission, one, to me, defines israel. this evening here, but in the middle of the night in israel where it's already the 24th of may. it's now 20 years almost to the hour that operation solomon

began. 20 years ago this month, civil war swept through ethiopia. over the previous year and a half, thousands of ethiopians have been brought to safety in israel, but thousands more remain. in may 1991, they fled and rebels controlled the capitol. time was ticking for the remaining jews and entire villages who were isolated from the diaspora continued this for thousands of years. again, israel government and its partners executed a covert, flawless air lift, flying 36 overloaded aircraft for 36 test hours to rescue more than 14,000 jews, nearly an entire jewish population. [applause] the beta israel as they were called got no belongings or

clothes. their feet were the first things to touch the ground. many did not have shoes. months after the rescue, my wife and i had the privilege of meeting with the new israelis in israel. i'll never forget the smiles they wore on their faces and the gratitude in their hearts for the state of israel. they were brought to an unfamiliar country with a vastly different culture, but they had come home and couldn't have been happier. fifteen years after and thousands of years after the exodus from egypt, israel demonstrated the lengths it travels and risks they take for the safety of the jewish people. [applause] israel demonstrated the unmatched precision and professionalism of which it operates. twenty years ago tonight, israel's light into the nation shown as brightly as ever.

this is the israel aipac and congress have to share with the world and the israel that does not define itself by war and worry and hope. this is the israel that's decided and dedicated itself that humanitarian aid and international development since the young country was called to share what little we have. this is the israel that worked for years with u.s.-aid to help unemployed egyptians plant farms in the desert. they flew into haiti hours after the earthquake to set up the first fully house. [applause] this is the israel that didn't wait a minute after hearing about the disaster of jay pap and going there -- japan and going there to help. [applause] this is the israel who works with ethiopians to eradicate hiv. [applause] this is the israel that built

the armor keeping american soldiers safe. [applause] this is the israel that gave a grant to jerusalem startup so it could invent the bandage to safe congresswoman gabrielle gifford's life. [applause] you see, this is the israel we love. this is the israel we supported since its earliest minutes, before the declaration of independence with the name of the state literally penciled in, we recognized their right to self-determination and self-defense. we were there from the beginning. [applause] we will be there with her for all times. [applause] american's commitment to israel is uncorruptible, nonnegotiateble, and we will never, never leave her side. thank you very much. [applause]

♪ ♪ ♪ >> a live look at the chamber of the u.s. senate. they will make their way over to the house chamber for a joint meeting with the u.s. house to hear from israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu. they are on their way right now. we will have live coverage for you from the house chamber when things get underway. in the meantime, vice president joe biden is making his way to capitol hill today for continued

discussions on working and out the problems and issues with the u.s. it debt and deficit. negotiations are underway on capitol hill. we spoke with a reporter to find out what is ahead. a with a bipartisan group of both the house and senate trying to come to some sort of deal on what? guest: there will meet again today as they have for the last few weeks to try to lay down some kind of foundation and framework for a legislative agreement on deficit reduction. host: when was the last time that they met? guest: they met before the break last week. i believe it was just over a week ago. they are really the only game in town now, since the gang of six has come to an impasse, it

appears, with senator coburn taking a break from those negotiations. they are really looking at this group with biden as the vehicle and venue for any deal that would come about. host: when did they have to come up with the deal in order for congress to act on it? and what did they think the vehicle will be for? guest: according to treasury, they have until august 2nd before the nation exhausts its borrowing ability. so they are going to work over these next few weeks to try to get something together. that is the only hardened deadline at the moment. even then we think that treasury has the ability to push that back. republicans do not know whether

they need act by a certain deadline to raise the debt ceiling. host: what do republicans want and what did that democrats want? guest: the republicans see this debate as a way to lock into law limits on spending. they feel thatpending is the main problem and has led to the massive deficit that we have right now. the democrats agreed that limits to spending need to be put on, but they would rather, they want to see some type of tax increases involved in the package. in order that spread the pain of budget -- deficit reduction across the budget. host: the vice president is going up to these lawmakers, and what does he expect? guest: jon kyl said that they expect the focus todayn about

$150 billion in savings that as a possible area of agreement in which both the white house and senate democrats and house publicans are circling around. not exactly clear what makes up at 150 billion, but some things talked about are a 5% cut in federal workers' compensation packages. that is something they haveeen talking about. also expecting some kind of caps on discretionary spending. hud is not exactly clear what that $150 billion consists of, but these arereas of the apparent agreement or overlapping of proposals out there. host: democrats have said they want the elimination of tax breaks for oil and gas companies part of this deal. but republicans say about that?

guest: republicans would seem to be able to accept that idea. but only in the context of lowering taxesverall, the overall corporate tax rate, and it is not clear whether that will be in the deal not. it would take a while to do some kind of tax reform proposal. there does not seem to be enough time between now and the >> for those meetings go under way, he will attend to his duties here in the house chamber as the two bodies needed to hear from israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu. expecting to talk about the status of peace talks and is planned for middle east peace.

you're watching members of the senate, and. this is live coverage here run c-span -- here on c-span.

the speaker: the joint meeting will come to order. the chair appoints as members of the committee on the part of the house to escort his

excellency, binyamin netanyahu, into the chamber -- the gentleman from virginia, mr. cantor, the gentleman from california, mr. mccarthy, the gentleman from texas, mr. hensarling, the gentleman from texas, mr. sessions, the gentleman from georgia, mr. price, the gentlewoman from washington, mrs. mcmorris rodgers, the gentleman from texas, mr. carter, the gentlewoman from south dakota, ms. noem, the gentleman from south carolina, mr. scott, the gentleman from oregon, mr. walden, the gentleman from california, mr. dreier, the gentleman from illinois, mr. roskam, the gentlewoman from florida, ms. ros-lehtinen, the gentleman from california, mr. mckeon, the gentleman from ohio, mr. chabot, the gentlewoman from california, ms. pelosi, the gentleman from maryland, mr. hoyer, the gentleman from south carolina, mr. clyburn, the gentleman from new york, mr. israel, the gentleman from california, mr. waxman, the gentleman from new york, mr. ackerman, the

gentleman from california, mr. berman, the gentleman from michigan, mr. levin, the gentlewoman from new york, mrs. lowey, the gentlewoman from nevada, ms. berkley, the gentlewoman from illinois, ms. schakowsky, the gentleman from california, mr. schiff, the gentlewoman from pennsylvania, ms. schwartz, the gentlewoman from florida, ms. wasserman schultz, and the gentleman from florida, mr. deutch. vice president biden: the senators as members of the committee to escort his excellency, mr. binyamin netanyahu, into the house chamber. the senator from illinois, mr. durbin, the senator from michigan, mr. levin, the senator from massachusetts, mr. kerry, the senator from wisconsin, mr. cole, the senator from connecticut, mr. lieberman, the senator from california, ms. feinstein, the senator from california, ms. boxer, the senator from arizona, mr. kyl, the senator

from south dakota, mr. thune, the senator from texas, mr. cornyn, the senator from indiana, mr. luger, and the senator from utah, mr. hatch. the speaker: the members of the escort committee will exit through the chamber doors, please.

>> mr. speaker, the acting dean of the diplomatic corps. >> mr. speaker, the president's cabinet.

>> mr. speaker, the prime minister of israel.

the speaker: members of congress, i have the high privilege and the distinct honor of presenting to you his excellency, binyamin netanyahu, prime minister of israel. >> thank you. thank you very much. thank you. vice president biden, speaker boehner, distinguished senators,

members of the house, honored guests i'm deeply moved by this warm welcome. an i'm deeply honored that you have given me the opportunity to address congress a second time. mr. vice president, do you remember the time that we were the new kids in town? and i do see a lot of old friends here. and i see a lot of new friends here as well. democrats and republicans alike.

israel has no better friend than america and america has no better friend than israel. we stand together to defend democracy. we stand together to advance peace. we stand together to fight terrorism. congratulations, america.

congratulations, mr. president, you got bin laden. good riddance. in an unstable middle east, israel is the one anchor of stability. in a region of shifting alliances, israel is america's unwavering ally. israel has always been pro-american, israel will always be pro-american. my friends, you don't have to -- you don't need to do nation building in israel. we are already built.

you don't need to export democracy to israel, we've already got it. and you don't need to send american troops to israel, we defend ourselves. you have been very generous in giving us tools to do the job of defending israel on our own. thank you all and thank you, president obama, for your steadfast commitment to israel's security. i know economic times are tough. i deeply appreciate this.

some of you have been telling me that your belief has been reaffirmed in recent months that support for israel's security is a wise investment in our common future. for an epic battle is now under way in the middle east between tyranny and freedom. a great convulsion is shaking the earth from the ky bert pass to the straits of gibraltar. they have toppled governments. and we can all see that the ground is still shifting. this historic moment holds the promise of a new dawn of freedom and opportunity.

there are millions of young people out there who are determined to change their future. we all look at them. they risk their lives. they demand dignity. they desire liberty. these extraordinary citizens in twonies and cairo -- tunis and cairo, those of berlin and prague in 1989, yet as we share their hopes --

>> you know, i take it as a badge of honor and so should you that in our free societies you can now protest. you can't have these protests in the parliaments in tehran or in tripoli. this is real democracy. so as we share the hopes of these young people throughout the middle east and iran that

they will be able to do what that young woman just did -- i think she's young. i couldn't see quite that far. we must also remember that those hopes would be snuffed out as they were in tehran in 1979. you remember what happened then. the brief democratic spring in tehran was cut short by a ferocious and unforgiving tyranny and it's this same tyranny that smothered the democratic seasoned and inflicted on that nation hezbollah. so today the middle east stands in a fateful crossroads and like all of you i pray that the

peoples of the region choose the path less traveled, the path of liberty. no one knows what this path consists of better than you. nobody. this path of liberty is not paved by elections alone. it's paved when government permit protests in town squares, when limits are placed on the powers of rulers, when judges are beholden to laws and not men and when human rights cannot be crushed by tribal loyalties or mob rule. israel has always embraced this path in the middle east that's long rejected it, in a region

where women are stoned, gays are hanged, christians are persecuted. israel stands out. it is different. and this was seen -- there was a great english writer in the 19th century, george elliott, it's a sheep -- that was a sued nim in those days. george elliott predicted over a century ago that once established the jewish state -- here's what he said -- the jewish state will shine like a bright star of freedom amid the

despotisms of the east. well, that's right. we have a free press, independent courts, an open economy, rambuncto -- rambunctious parliament. don't laugh. you think this is hard. go there for a day. be my guest. courageous arab protestors are now struggling to secure these very same rights for their peoples, for their societies. we're proud in israel that over one million arab citizens of israel have been enjoying these rights for decades.

of the 300 million arabs in the middle east and north africa, only israel's arab citizens enjoy real democratic rights. now, i want you to stop for a second and think about that. of those 300 million arabs, less than one half of one percent are truly free, and they're all citizens of israel. this sad fact reveals the basic truth. israel is not what is wrong about the middle east. israel is what is right about the middle east.

israel fully supports the desire of arab peoples in our region to live freely. we long for the day when israel will be one of many real democracies in the middle east. 15 years ago i stood at this very podium -- by the way, it hasn't changed. i stood here and i said that democracy must start to take root in the arab world. well, it's begun to take root, and this beginning holds the promise of a brilliant future

of peace and prosperity because i believe that a middle east that is genuinely democratic will be a middle east truly at peace. but while we hope for the best and while we work for the best, we must also recognize that powerful forces oppose this future. they oppose democracy. they oppose peace. far most is iran. they brutalize its own people. they support attacks against american troops in afghanistan and iraq. it subjects lebanon and gaza. it sponsors terror worldwide. when i last stood here i spoke of the consequences of iran developing nuclear weapons.

now, time is running out. the hinge of history may soon turn. for the greatest daunger of all could soon be upon us. a militant islamic regime armed with nuclear weapons. militant islam threatens the world. it threatens islam. now, i have no doubt and absolutely convinced that it will ultimately be defeated. i believe it will eventually succumb to the forces of freedom and progress. it depends on cloistering young minds for a given amount of years and the process of opening up information will ultimately defeat this movement. but like other fanaticisms that

were doomed to fail, militant islam could have its eventually demise. a nuclear armed iran would ignite a nuclear arms race in the middle east. it would give terrorists a nuclear umbrella. it would mike the nightmare of nuclear terrorism a clear and present danger throughout the world. i want you to understand what this means because if we don't stop it, it's coming. they could put a bomb anywhere. they could put it in a missile. they're working on missiles that could reach this city. they could put it on a ship inside a container to reach every port. they could eventually put it in a suitcase or in a subway. now, the threat to my country cannot be overstated. those that dismiss it are

sticking their heads in the sand. in less than seven decades after six million jews were murdered, iran's leaders deny the holocaust of the jewish people while calling for the annihilation of the jewish state. leaders who spew such venom should be banned from every respectable forum on the planet. but there's something that makes the outrage even greater. you know what that is?

it's the lack of outrage because in much of the international community the calls for our destruction are met with utter silence. it's even worse because there are many who rush to condemn israel for defending itself against iran's terror proxies. not you. not america. you acted differently, you've condemned the iran regime and passed tough sanctions against

iran. history will salute you, america. president obama has said that the united states is determined to prevent iran from developing nuclear weapons. the president successfully led the security council at the u.n. to adopt sanctions against iran. you in congress passed even tougher sanctions. now, these words are vitally important, yet the ayatollah regime briefly suspended its nuclear weapons program only once, in 2003, when it feared the possibility of military action. in that same year, muammar gaddafi gave up his nuclear program and for the same

reason. the more iran believes that all options are on the table the less the chance of confrontation. and this is why i ask you to continue to send an unequivocal message that america will never permit iran to develop nuclear weapons. now, as for israel, if history has taught the jewish people

anything it is that we must take calls for our destruction seriously. we are a nation that rose from the ashes of the holocaust. when we say never again we mean never again. israel always returns. israel always reserves the right to defend itself. my friends, while israel will be ever vigilant in its defense we'll never give up our quest for peace. i guess we'll give it up when we achieve it. because we want peace, because

we need peace. now, we've achieved historic peace agreement with egypt and jordan and these have held up for decades. i remember what it was like before we had peace. i was nearly killed in a firefight inside the -- i mean that literally -- inside the suez canal. i was going to the bottom with a 40-pound ammunition pack and somebody reached out to grab me and they're still looking for a guy that would do such a stupid thing. i was nearly killed there. and i remember battling terrorists along both banks of the jordan. too many israelis have lost loved ones.

i know their grief. i lost my brother. so no one in israel wants a return to those terrible days. the peace with egypt and jordan has long served as an anchor of stability and peace -- and with -- this peace should be bolstered by economic and political support to all those who remain committed to peace. the peace agreements between israel and egypt and israel and jordan are vital, but they are not enough. we must also find a way to forge a lasting peace with the palestinians.

two years ago i publicly committed to a solution of two states for two peoples, a palestinian state alongside a jewish state. i am willing to make painful compromises to achieve this historic peace, as the leader of israel, it's my responsibility to lead my people to peace. this is not easy for me. not easy. because i recognize that in a genuine peace we'll be required to give up parts of the ancestral jewish homeland.

and you have to understand this, in judea and sue marea, the jewish people are not foreign occupiers. we are not the british and india, we are not the belgiums in the congo. this is the land of our forefathers. the land of israel. to which abraham brought the idea of one god, where david set out to confront goliath, and where isiah saw vision of eternal peace. no distortion of history, boy, am i reading a lot of distortions of history lately, old and new, no distortion of history can deny the 4,000 -year-old bond between the jewish people and the jewish

land. but there is another truth, the palestinians share this small land with us. we seek a peace in which they'll be neither israel's subjects nor its citizens. they should enjoy a national life of dignity as a free, viable, and independent people living in their own state. they should enjoy a prosperous economy where their creativity

and initiative can flourish. we have already seen the beginnings of what is possible. in the last few years the palestinians have begun to build a better life for themselves. by the way, prime minister phi yad has led this effort on their farther and i wish him a speedy recovery from his recent operation. we have helped on our side, we have helped the palestinian economic growth by removing hundreds of barriers and roadblocks to the free flow of goods and people. and the results have been nothing short of remarkable. the palestinian economy is booming. it's grown by more than 10% a year. and palestinian cities, they look very different today than what they looked just a few

years ago. they have shopping malls. movie theaters. restaurants, banks, they even have e-businesses but you can't see that when you visit them. that's what they have. it's a great change. and all of this is happening without peace. so imagine what could happen with peace. peace would herald a new day for both our peoples, and it could also make the dream of a broader arab-israeli peace a realistic possibility. so now here's the question. you've got to ask it. if the benefits of peace with the palestinians are so clear, why has peace eluded us? because all six israeli prime

ministers since the signing of the oslo accords, agreed to establish a palestinian state. myself included. so why is peace -- has peace not been achieved? because so far the palestinians have been unwilling to accept a palestinian state if it meant accepting a jewish state alongside it. you see, our conflict has never been about the establishment of a palestinian state. it's always been about the existence of the jewish state. this is what this conflict is about.

in 1947 the u.n. voted to partition the land into a jewish state and an arab state. the jews said yes. the palestinians said no. in recent years the palestinians twice refused generous offers by israeli prime ministers to establish a palestinian state on virtually all the territory won by israel in the six-day war. they were simply unwilling to end the conflict. and i regret to say this, they continue to educate their children to hate. they continue to name public squares after terrorists. and worst of all they continue to perpetuate the fantasy that israel will one day be flooded

by the desendants of palestinian refugees. my friends, this must come to an end. president obama abbas must do -- president abbas must do what i have done. i stood before my people, and i told you it wasn't easy for me, i stood before my people and said i will accept a palestinian state. it's time for president abbas to stand before his people and say, i will accept a jewish state.

those six words will change history. now, make it clear to the palestinians that this conflict must come to an end. that they are not building a palestinian state to continue the conflict with israel, but to end it. those six words will convince the people of israel that they have a true partner for peace. with such a partner, the palestinian -- rather the israeli people will be prepared to make a far-reaching compromise. i will be prepared to make a far-reaching compromise.

this compromise must reflect the dramatic demographic changes that have occurred since 1967. the vast majority of the 650,000 israelis who live beyond the 1967 lines reside in neighborhoods and suburbs of jerusalem and greater tel aviv. now, these areas are densely populated, but they are geographically quite small. and under any realistic peace agreement, these areas as well as other places of critical strategic and national importance will be incorporated into the final borders of israel.

the status of the settlements will be decided only in negotiations, but we must also be honest. so i'm saying today something that should be said publicly, by all those who are serious about peace, in any real peace agreement, in any peace agreement that ends the conflict , some settlements will end up beyond israel's borders. now the precise delineation of those borders must be negotiated. we'll be generous about the size of the future palestinian states. but as president obama said, the border will be different than the one that existed on june 4, 1967. israel will not return to the boundaries of 1967.

>> i want to be very clear on this point, israel will be generous on the signs of the palestinian state but will be very firm on where we put the border with it. this is an important principle, it shouldn't be lost. we recognize a palestinian state must be big enough to be viable, to be independent, to be prosperous. all of you, and the president, too, have referred to israel as the homeland of the jewish people. just as you have been talking about a future palestinian state, is the homeland of the palestinian people. jews from around the world have

a right to immigrate to the one and only jewish state. and palestinians from around the world should have a right to immigrate if they so choose to a palestinian state. here's what this means. it means that the palestinian refugee problem will be resolved outside the borders of israel. everybody knows this, it's time to say it, it's important. and as for jerusalem, only a democratic israel has protected the freedom of worship for all faiths in the city.

throughout the millennial history of the jewish capital, the only time that jews, christians, and muslims could worship freely, could have unfettered access to their holy sites, has been during israel's sovereignty over jerusalem. jerusalem must never again be divided. jerusalem must remain the united capital of israel. . i know this is a difficult issue for palestinians, but i believe that with creativity and with good will, a solution can be found.

sos the peace i plan to forge with a palestinian partner committed to peace. but you know very well that in the middle east, the only peace that will hold is a peace you can defend. so peace must be anchored in security. [applause] in recent years, israel withdrew from south lebanon and fwa sa. we thought we'd get peace. that's not what we got. we got 12,000 rockets fired from those areas on our cities, on our children by hezbollah and hamas. the u.n. peace keepers in lebanon failed to prevent the smuggling of this weaponry. the european observers in fwa

sa, they evaporated overnight. so if israel simply walked out of the territories, the flow of weapons into a future palestinian state would be unchecked and missiles fired from it could reach virtually every home in israel in less than a minute. i want you to think about that, too. imagine there's a siren going on and we have less than 60 seconds to find shelter from an incoming rocket. would you live that way? do you think anybody can live that way in we're not going to live that way either.

the truth is that israel needs unique security arrangements because of its unique size. it's one of the smallest countries in the world. mr. vice president, i'll grant you this, it's bigger than delaware. it's even bigger than rhode island. but that's about it. israel on the 1967 lines would be half the width of the washington beltway. here's a bit of nostalgia. i came to washington 30 years ago as a young diplomat, it took me a while, but i finally figured it out. there is an america beyond the beltway. but israel on the 1967 lines

would be only nine miles wide. so much for strategic depth. so it's therefore vital, absolutely vital that a palestinian state be fully demilitarized and it's vital, absolutely vital, that israel maintain a long-term military presence along the jordan river. solid security arrangements on the ground are necessary not only to protect the peace, they're necessary to protect israel in case the peace unvalve -- unravels. because in our unstable region,

no one can guarantee that our peace partners today will be there tomorrow. and my friends, when i say tomorrow, i don't mean someties tant time in the future. i mean tomorrow. peace can only be achieved around the negotiating table. the attempt to make a settlement through the united nations will mot make peace. it should be forcefully opposed by all those who want to see this conflict end. i appreciate the president's clear position on this issue. peace cannot be imposed. it must be negotiated.

but peace can only be negotiated with partners committed to peace and hamas is not a partner for peace. hamas remains committed to israel's destruction. and to terrorism. they have a charter. that charter not only calls for the obliteration of israel, it says, kill the jews. everywhere you find them. hamas' leader condemned the killing of osama bin laden and praised him as a holy warrior. again, i want to make this clear. israel is prepared to sit down today and negotiate peace with the palestinian authority.

i believe we can fashion a brilliant future for our children. but israel will not negotiate with a palestinian government backed by the palestinian version of al qaeda. that we will not do. so i say to president abbas, tear up your pact with hamas. sit down and negotiate. make peace with the jewish state. and if you do, i promise you this, israel will not be the last country to welcome a palestinian state as a new member of the united nations. it will be the first to do so.

my friends, the momentous trials of the last semplery and the unfolding events of this century attest to the decisive role of the united states in defending peace and advancing freedom. providence and trust of the united states to be the guardian of liberty. all people who cherish freedom owe a profound debt of gratitude to your great nation. among the most grateful nations is my nation. the people of israel. who have fought for their liberty and survival against impossible odds in ancient and modern times alike.

i speak on behalf of the jewish people and the jewish state when i say to you, representives of america, thank you -- representatives of america, thank you. thank you for your unwavering support for israel. thank you for ensuring that the flame of freedom burns bright throughout the world. may god bless all of you and may god forever bless the united states of america.

thank you. thank you very much. thank you.

>> binyamin netanyahu of israel addressing congress for the second time. he addressed congress in 1996 here today speaking for about 50 minutes and covering a broad lange of issues. we would like to ask you to weigh in with your thoughts not only on this piece but the prime minister's visit in general. several events we covered, including the meeting at the white house on friday, we want to know from you how does the prime minister advance the peace process by his visit to the u.s. the numbers to call if you are a democrat, it's 202-585-3885. republicans, 202-585-3886. and independents, 202-585-3887, please mute your television, and if you called in the last 0 days, please wait and let others call in. frank in georgia, go ahead. frank, are you on the line? hello, frank? you are on the hair.

kelly: -- caller: i would like to make a comment about the israel prime minister that he had, prime minister and citizen of israel shift. israel has made the offer in the past as all prime ministers have . there should be a palestinian state as well. but israel should stand as it is and i hope the american people stand with israel. host: let's hear from new york next. muncie new york, it is yolky. independent line. springfield, illinois. go ahead. caller: the speech, the when he said they shouldn't have a

military, -- host: you talking about the palestinians? caller: yes. they did get a space, they are probably going to have to have security, military, even though it can't be the terrorist one. it's unrealistic to say they have a military and they can't. but i just think we really need to get behind this. i think it would affect the whole arab world, the whole world. it seems small in some people's eyes, but i think it's a huge thing throughout the world. so if we can just get this peace process. host: let's look at some of the highlights from the speech. he covered a number of areas, including national security and iran. just a couple of those. he said that israel will always be a pro-american country. he talked about the threat, the israeli perceived threat from iran, the possibility of it igniting an arms race.

he also said that he would be willing to give up land for peace. in fact, his quote was, i will be prepared to make painful compromises, but he insisted that the palestinians must accept a jewish state. in particular calling on hamas, that hamas must -- is not currently a partner in peace. let's go to texas and rose is on our democrat line. rose, what city in texas are you calling from? caller: corpus grove. i agree with the netanyahu about the palestinians need to recognize the jewish state. i think that they need to be recognized as a nation. i also believe that the palestinians need their own country. they need their own land. they must come to some type of terms of agreement. i also note that what president

obama said, what he said about the 1967 line is unrealistic because that's like telling us to give the land back to the indians. we have to come -- they have to come to some type of terms where it's a win-win for both sides. my prayer is that happens. and i believe israel needs to protect itself and they need to do whatever they can to protect themselves. i believe that we as americans need to support them and protect themselves from the enemies around them. host: thanks rose. we'll stay in texas. go ahead with your comments. caller: i thoroughly enjoyed the speech. i thought that binyamin netanyahu was absolutely terrific. i believe that we should stay out of their business on telling them where to divide their land and everything.

that's israel. not our business. and i think that they should be allowed to protect themselves, and i think that we should stand behind them always. host: what about that other caller who said he agreed with the prime minister, but felt also that his demand that the palestinians give up any military was unreasonable? caller: that the palestinians? host: yes. caller: they'll have some military, i'm sure. but i don't want it to be where they can at a later date, you know, shoot rockets at israel. i never realized how fast a rocket could get there. and i never realized until just the last few years how small israel is. but i am strictly for israel and i hope america always stands behind her. host: we are waiting to hear possibly from house speaker john

boehner and the prime minister. they are supposed to come to the cameras and the microphones up in what's called the speaker's gallery. we will wait for that if that comes, we are able to get that live for you, we will. and we'll continue to take your phone calls for the next couple minutes. next to long island. deborah on the democrat line. go ahead. caller: i thought he spoke very well. i'm proud of him, i'm proud of israel. and i think the united states has to back democracy in the middle east and israel is the only democracy in the middle east that's been there for the last 60-odd years. and i think we as americans have to support that. if we want democracy to be in the whole world, we have to be supportive of the one democracy that is there. and i think he showed where israel would like to be. and i think that we as americans have to support it. host: according to the congressional research service, in 2010 the u.s. gave israel

$2.8 billion in aid. gave the palestinian authority a half a billion dollars in aid. and egypt, $1.5 billion. gilbert, arizona, on the republican line. it's -- new orleans, sorry. who is on the line? independent line? caller: alan. host: your thoughts? caller: i particularly did not like the speech. why? the reason is because i don't believe in a palestinian, another arab state that should be created on jewish land. so i don't know what kind of game he's playing, but he played two sides. he agrees for an arab state, but yet he gives all kinds of conditions. the arabs, thank god, are not going to go through with this. they are not going -- they haven't agreed to it in 60 years, they are not going to agree to it right now. i would like to ask the prime minister and also the president one question, if there is an

arab state set up, the west bank, what are we going to do with 300,000 jews that live there? what is he going to do with them? is he going to drag them out like he did -- like they did in gazza -- gaza? or are they going to let them stay there. host: didn't he hint in that speech of what he would do? saying they were not foreign occupiers? caller: that they weren't foreign occupiers? host: correct. the people there. caller: he did. but he didn't say what would happen to them. host: the prime minister did talk more specifically about where those borders might fall in response to the call by the president that the 1967 borders be the starting point for discussion. here's how prime minister netanyahu responded to that.

in any real peace agreement, in any peace agreement that ends the conflict, some settlements will end up beyond israel's borders. now the precise delineation of those borders must be negotiated . we'll be generous about the size of the future palestinian state. but as president obama said, the border will be different than the one that existed on june 4, 1967. israel will not return to the indefensible boundaries of 1967. host: binyamin netanyahu from a short while ago. continuing to take your calls about the president -- prime

minister's visit. has he advanced the cause of peace? both in his speech, the speech at aipac the other night and the meeting with the president on friday. new orleans is next up on our independent line. hi, there. caller: hello. i listened to the speech and i don't think that netanyahu was very condescending and -- i was around when they stole the land from the palestinians to give to the israelis, after world war ii, and they created -- nobody's going to get along over there, i don't guess. if the israelis will acquiesce,

i'm not saying president obama what -- host: you said the palestinians and the truman stole the land from the palestinians. caller: no, i said truman. host: truman. caller: the united states. they decided to set up the israeli country right there on land they got from the palestinians. host: do you think the israelis have a right to have a country there alongside a palestinian state? caller: well, they are there. and if they are going to stay there, they are going to have to be more responsive than what they have been. i don't know that netanyahu really wants peace. it stirs it up more. it's kind of like we do. we in america, we believe in a chance and all that kind of

stuff, and i glue up, i was born in 1933 and went through everything after that. and the united states government has controlled us through being afraid the russians were coming. host: that's a little bit off topic, new orleans. we'll stay with the issue here on the middle east. to sylvia in california. as we wait to hear from prime minister netanyahu and speaker boehner up here in the speaker's balcony. that's the setup here. go ahead, sylvia. caller: thank you for having me. i think that his speech was dynamic. he expressed himself very strong and he addressed the fact in the speech that will our president put to the issue in a very -- how would you say it.

strong manner that that plort that they own, they earned it. i was in that country three months before the six-day war. host: it might be a minute or two here before we get to binyamin netanyahu. i want to try to get to one more call. thank you for weighing in. new brunswick, new jersey, go ahead. new brunswick, new jersey, you are on the air. new brussels, texas, on our republican line. hi, there. caller: hi. host: go ahead with your comments. caller: me from new brussels? host: yep. make sure you mute your television or radio there. go ahead with your thoughts. hang on. we'll put you on hold and come back to you momentarily. >> prime minister netanyahu, i want to thank you for your visit

today. i want to thank you for your message this morning. we live in a time of instability in the middle east and around the world. but the united states has no stronger ally than israel. our long-standing alliance is built on trust and values of freedom and democracy. as i said last night, america has a critical leadership role to play in the middle east. to advance freedom and democracy in the entire region. that is our historic and moral responsibility as a great and free nation. we should never retreat from that role. today we stand shoulder to shoulder with israel and once again renew our historic partnership. the work of achieving a safe and secure israel has never been easy, but the cause is right. so we look forward to continuing to work together for peace, freedom, and stability in the region. prime minister.

thank you, spreek. thank you -- speaker. thank you, john, thank you for this invitation. that was issued on behalf of the leaders of the house and the senate, they are here. john boehner, nancy pelosi, harry reid, mitch mcconnell. i have known these friends of israel a long time. they are true steadfast friends. i think you got that impression, i got that impression in the hall where we have just come from. i was delighted to see these anchors of the israel-american alliance and the new face that is have been added. it's heartwarming. we have a different feeling about the world.

about our potential. about our defenses. when we have this solid american support from all parts of the american people. america supports us in our quest for peace. america helps our security. america wants a genuine peace. america joins us in demanding that hamas, this criminal organization, release the leader, imagine they are keeping our captive solder in a dungeon for five years and not letting the red cross visit him even once. american stands with us in our just demands to release our soldiers to stop terrorism to have a real durable and defensible peace. this is a great day for us. and for me, it's the opportunity to -- i can't say close the circle, i can say come back to a

place that i deeply appreciate. this country, its capital city, washington. its capital and the great american patriots who are leading it and who are leading the friendship between the world's biggest democracies. so far the middle east only democracy. thank you very much. >> on behalf of the united states senate, we welcome you to the united states capitol. for someone who has listened to a lot of speeches and a lot of speeches in the house chamber, i have to say that you made the all-star team. that was a terrific deliverry. a lot of content. welcome to america. >> thank you, harry. thank you very much. >> as you indicated there wasn't a single doubt in your mind

after being before this congress of the steadfast bipartisan and genuinely enthusiastic support of the united states. welcome to the capitol. >> thank you. thank you. >> mr. prime minister, it's an honor to join my colleagues and the leadership of this congress to welcome you once again to the capitol of the united states -- capital of the united states. as you know just two weeks ago we had a bipartisan delegation visit you in israel where we shared the experience of the day of remembrance and bursting forth in celebration for the establishment of the nation of israel. two weeks ago, one week ago here in the capitol, under the dome, we had the day of remembrance for -- of the holocaust. the prime minister very eloquently tied all of these things together speaking about the importance of a jewish state in the middle east.

mr. prime minister, i think that was clear from the response in your speech that our colleagues on both sliles, from both sides of the capitol believe that you advance the cause of peace. both sliles, both sides of the capitol believe that you violence the cause of peace thank you, mr. prime minister. >> thank you. may i say i was remiss in not mentioning an extraordinary friend of israel and extraordinary public servant, eric cantor. it's good to see you here, too, eric, thank you for that invitation. thank you. >> mr. prime minister, welcome. i think we heard today the tremendous challenges that the people of israel face. the exi extension -- existential threat they face as do we in the middle east. i think you heard today the resounding bipartisan support for the u.s.-israel relationship remains strong and will

continue. >> thank you very much. >> thank you all. >> congressional leaders with prime minister binyamin netanyahu. going to wrap up here on c-span taking a couple more of your thoughts on the prime minister's speech and his efforts. have they advanced the cause of peace waiting on the line, hartford, connecticut. democratic caller. caller: the reason i'm calling is i fully agree with president obama's thinking. in his view is misrepresented by everybody. he said, the 1967 border, not per se, but the pre-1967 border land swaps. his position was misrepresented. that's why i'm calling. and to say israel is so far, i

think -- my two points. president obama was misrepresented bigtime. and that's my point, ok. thank you very much. host: thank you. akron, ohio. you'll get the last word on this. tony, make sure you mute your set and go ahead with your comments. caller: yes. host: tony please leave your television. caller: hello? host: you are on the air. caller: thank you very much. i'd like to say it was a nice speech. netanyahu. the one thing i wanted to point out, everybody around the world that can hear this, is please understand one thing. the united states and israel back in the days of even --

israel was given that land but then was thrown out of that land. they were given that land with palestinian -- palestine, but when the jewish people were given that land, the jews refused to take the land, therefore-- host: tony. do you think prime minister netanyahu's visit, his appearance in washington this weekend has advanced the cause of the peace process? caller: i, mr. netanyahu, he's really sick of talking. i don't think he's behind it. he's oppressing his own people. host: the conversation will continue online. tony, you can weigh in on our facebook page or also twitter.com. there's a lot of comments going on from members of congress. go to c-span.org. click on our gitter button. see what our members have been

talking about about the speech today. coming up the u.s. house will be back in session probably in 15 or 20 minutes. and they'll take up the 2012 defense programs bill. the senate also coming back at 2:15. they'll continue work on expiring provisions of the patriot act. you can follow the senate on c-span2. the house here on c-span when they gavel back in. until that time we'll give awe chance to see some of the speech from prime minister netanyahu. economy, rambuncto -- rambunctious parliament. don't laugh. you think this is hard. go there for a day. be my guest. courageous arab protestors are now struggling to secure these very same rights for their

peoples, for their societies. we're proud in israel that over one million arab citizens of israel have been enjoying these rights for decades. of the 300 million arabs in the middle east and north africa, only israel's arab citizens enjoy real democratic rights. now, i want you to stop for a second and think about that. of those 300 million arabs, less than one half of one percent are truly free, and they're all citizens of israel.

this sad fact reveals the basic truth. israel is not what is wrong about the middle east. israel is what is right about the middle east. israel fully supports the desire of arab peoples in our region to live freely. we long for the day when israel will be one of many real democracies in the middle east. 15 years ago i stood at this very podium -- by the way, it hasn't changed. i stood here and i said that

democracy must start to take root in the arab world. well, it's begun to take root, and this beginning holds the promise of a brilliant future of peace and prosperity because i believe that a middle east that is genuinely democratic will be a middle east truly at peace. but while we hope for the best and while we work for the best, we must also recognize that powerful forces oppose this future. they oppose democracy. they oppose peace. far most is iran. they brutalize its own people. they support attacks against american troops in afghanistan

and iraq. it subjects lebanon and gaza. it sponsors terror worldwide. when i last stood here i spoke of the consequences of iran developing nuclear weapons. now, time is running out. the hinge of history may soon turn. for the greatest daunger of all could soon be upon us. a militant islamic regime armed with nuclear weapons. militant islam threatens the world. it threatens islam. now, i have no doubt and absolutely convinced that it will ultimately be defeated. i believe it will eventually succumb to the forces of freedom and progress. it depends on cloistering young

minds for a given amount of years and the process of opening up information will ultimately defeat this movement. but like other fanaticisms that were doomed to fail, militant islam could have its eventually demise. a nuclear armed iran would ignite a nuclear arms race in the middle east. it would give terrorists a nuclear umbrella. it would mike the nightmare of nuclear terrorism a clear and present danger throughout the world. i want you to understand what this means because if we don't stop it, it's coming. they could put a bomb anywhere. they could put it in a missile. they're working on missiles that could reach this city. they could put it on a ship

inside a container to reach every port. they could eventually put it in a suitcase or in a subway. now, the threat to my country cannot be overstated. those that dismiss it are sticking their heads in the sand. in less than seven decades after six million jews were murdered, iran's leaders deny the holocaust of the jewish people while calling for the annihilation of the jewish state. leaders who spew such venom should be banned from every respectable forum on the planet.

but there's something that makes the outrage even greater. you know what that is? it's the lack of outrage because in much of the international community the calls for our destruction are met with utter silence. it's even worse because there are many who rush to condemn israel for defending itself against iran's terror proxies. not you. not america.

you acted differently, you've condemned the iran regime and passed tough sanctions against iran. history will salute you, america. president obama has said that the united states is determined to prevent iran from developing nuclear weapons. the president successfully led the security council at the u.n. to adopt sanctions against iran. you in congress passed even tougher sanctions. now, these words are vitally important, yet the ayatollah regime briefly suspended its nuclear weapons program only once, in 2003, when it feared

the possibility of military action. in that same year, muammar gaddafi gave up his nuclear program and for the same reason. the more iran believes that all options are on the table foreig committee in the early 1970's he retired in 175. all that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks colleagues know that peter's son, rodney, our distinguished colleague here in the house, is now in mourning as is the rest of the family. so on this sad day i invite all my colleagues to join me in

extending to rodney and his brothers frederick and peter and his sisters and their families our deepest and most profound condolences. peterhood valentine frelinghuysen was proud of his work in the house. he was loved by the people of new jersey. and we thank him for his extraordinary legacy of service. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. for what purpose does the gentleman from massachusetts rise? >> to address the house for one minute. revise and extend. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman from massachusetts is recognized for one minute. mr. mcgovern: thank you, mr. speaker. mr. speaker, health care is a right not a privilege. we made a promise to our seniors that they will have health care when they retire so they do not have to wither away as they ainge. but republicans have broken that promise. republicans by passing the ryan budget believe that seniors should fend for themselves. america should not honor the bargain made with the seniors. it's simple, mr. speaker. republicans don't like medicare. i'm glad this new majority is showing its true colors and it's no surprise americans don't like

this position. they didn't like it when they tried to privatize social security, and they don't like the republican plan to voucherize medicare. in contrast, democrats stand with america's seniors. we believe america should keep its promise to america's seniors. we believe america's seniors deserve better. support medicare. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. for what purpose does the gentleman from new hampshire rise? without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. bass: mr. speaker, yesterday america lost a great public servant. a great friend of the state of new jersey, a father of one of my, if not my best friend in congress. a friend of my family's and just a wonderful guy. mr. frelinghuysen as i knew him, peter frelinghuysen, served in the congress as my friend from new jersey just mentioned from 1953 to 1975.

he was the second or third oldest former member of congress, now my father, who is 98, is the oldest former member of congress, and our families grew up together. we grew up in the spirit of public service, good friendship, of bipartisanship, and of action. i remember mr. frelinghuysen so well as a child bringing us around here in the chamber and around capitol hill and even out to amusement parks in the washington, d.c. area. he was a great father to his five children. but most importantly, mr. speaker, he was a great american and a very fine distinguished member of congress. i will miss him. i know his family will miss him. i know the citizens of new jersey will miss him. he was a great american. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. for what purpose does the gentleman from california rise? without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. baca: mr. speaker, these are

tough times for the american people everywhere. in my home state of california, families face a 12% unemployment rate, and the gas prices are well over $4 a gallon. but instead of working together to solve the problems, republican leadership has voted to end medicare as we know it. and it extends the tax breaks to companies that send jobs overseas. this week the senate will have its chance to vote on a reckless republican budget. the consequences of this misguided plan are devastating for the senior citizens, and i state devastating to the senior citizens and the middle class. in california alone, the republican budget would cost seniors, i state cost seniors over $214 in higher prescription drug costs next year. caught $454 billion in medicare funding for seniors and

disabled. and the cost to us is $186,000 that will go to the private sector jobs that will be lost over the next five years. we must stop this plan. let us work together on a reasonable budget to protect medicare. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. for what purpose does the gentleman from indiana rise? without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. >> mr. speaker, i rise today to talk about jobs. over a month ago i lost my participation in american job creators. all too often in washington, regulations are created that end up stifling job creation across our nation. that is why i chose to participate in american job creators. with unemployment at 9%, it was common sense to me to ask the job creating experts what regulations are affecting their ability to grow and expand. one job creator in my district is a home builder.

she went to american job creators dot-com and used the platform to communicate with me. she identified the onerous banking regulations created bied dodd-frank act, making it more difficult for them to borrow money. this makes it more difficult to complete and start new projects. we know the housing crisis has made it difficult on the construction industry, but adding these regulations has further stifled the industry's ability to recover and create jobs in america. i would like to thank jody for her participation and encourage more people to go to american job creators.com. with that i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. for what purpose does the the gentlewoman from maryland rise? ms. edwards: to address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentlewoman from maryland is recognized for one minute. ms. edwards: thank you, mr. speaker. i rise today to join with the american people to protect medicare. pretty simple. the republicans if they had

their way it would mean a catastrophic end to the program and deep-six protections for seniors and improvements to medicare that we made under the affordable care act. medicare has long been a reliable source of coverage for seniors, ensuring they can afford the care they need. in maryland the g.o.p. plan would force seniors to pay nearly $6,le00 -- $6,800 more for medical expenses in the first year alone. at a time when seniors are economically vull initial, this would further threaten their quality of life. while their budget to date hasn't produced a single job creating bill, what they would do in these next sefrling months is to cut more than two million private sector jobs across the country. so right now the republicans are heading for the hills trying to distance themselves from what they are trying to do to medicare, but it's clear that the american people want to protect medicare. and so i urge my colleagues to join with us and oppose this controversial change that would end the decades old promise to the american people. it's a simple question.

whose side are you on? well, i'm on the side of democrats, on the side of seniors, not the wealthy health insurance industry and big oil bandits. with that i yield. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman's time has expired. for what purpose does the gentlewoman from michigan rise? mrs. miller: unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. revise and extend. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. mrs. miller: mr. speaker, we just heard from a leader of the nation that is one of america's greatest friends and allies, prime minister, binyamin netanyahu, of the nation of israel. and the prime minister was correct in saying that in the often shifting alliances in the middle east, only israel stands as our unwavering ally. his message for peace and security should not be heard just in this chamber but across the world. many in the world often like to scapegoat israel as the cause of instability in the middle east, and the reason why a palestinian state has not been created and nothing can be further from the

truth, as the prime minister said, the conflict has never been about the establishment of a palestinian state, it has always been about the existence of a jewish state. it is time for the palestinian president, abbas, to stand before his people and state that is he ready to accept peace and live side by side with the jewish state of israel. only then can peace be achieved. until that time and on into the future, the people of the world should know that the united states of america will always stand strong with the nation of israel. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman yields back the balance of her time.